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STONE (DIMENSION)1

(Data in thousand metric tons unless otherwise noted)

Domestic Production and Use: Approximately 2.7 million tons of dimension stone, valued at $440 million, was sold or used by U.S. producers in 2019. Dimension stone was produced by 197 companies operating 250 quarries in 33 States. Leading producer States were, in descending order by tonnage, Texas, Wisconsin, Indiana, Georgia, and Vermont. These five States accounted for about 68% of the production quantity and contributed about 56% of the value of domestic production. Approximately 50%, by tonnage, of dimension stone sold or used was limestone, followed by sandstone (20%), granite (18%), miscellaneous stone (8%), and marble and slate (2% each). By value, the leading sales or uses were for limestone (45%), followed by granite (25%), sandstone (11%), miscellaneous stone (9%), slate (6%), and marble (4%). Rough stone represented 54% of the tonnage and 47% of the value of all the dimension stone sold or used by domestic producers, including exports. The leading uses and distribution of rough stone, by tonnage, were in building and construction (53%) and in irregular-shaped stone (35%). The leading uses and distribution of dressed stone, by tonnage, were in ashlars and partially squared pieces (41%), slabs and blocks for building and construction (12%), and curbing (11%).

Salient Statistics—United States: 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019e Sold or used by producers:2 Tonnage 2,700 2,960 2,860 2,650 2,700 Value, million dollars 469 448 450 435 440 Imports for consumption, value, million dollars 2,350 2,180 2,120 2,090 1,900 Exports, value, million dollars 75 65 69 70 60 Consumption, apparent, value, million dollars3 2,740 2,560 2,500 2,460 2,300 Price Variable, depending on type of product Employment, quarry and mill, number4 4,000 4,000 3,900 3,900 3,900 Net import reliance5 as a percentage of apparent consumption (based on value) 83 83 82 82 81 Granite only, sold or used by producers: Tonnage 585 593 510 483 480 Value, million dollars 130 130 113 108 110 Imports, value, million dollars 1,330 1,100 1,010 915 880 Exports, value, million dollars 27 21 22 19 18 Consumption, apparent, value, million dollars3 1,430 1,210 1,100 1,000 970 Price Variable, depending on type of product Employment, quarry and mill, number4 880 880 800 800 800 Net import reliance5 as a percentage of apparent consumption (based on value) 91 89 90 89 89

Recycling: Small amounts of dimension stone were recycled, principally by restorers of old stone work.

Import Sources (2015–18 by value): All dimension stone: China, 25%; Brazil, 24%; Italy, 21%; Turkey, 16%; and other, 14%. Granite only: Brazil, 45%; China, 24%; India, 16%; Italy, 8%; and other, 7%.

Tariff: Dimension stone tariffs ranged from free to 6.5% ad valorem, according to type, degree of preparation, shape, and size, for countries with normal trade relations in 2019. Most crude or roughly trimmed stone was imported at 3.7% ad valorem or less.

Prepared by Thomas P. Dolley [(703) 648–7710, [email protected]] 157

STONE (DIMENSION)

Depletion Allowance: 14% (Domestic and foreign); slate used or sold as sintered or burned lightweight aggregate, 7.5% (Domestic and foreign); dimension stone used for rubble and other nonbuilding purposes, 5% (Domestic and foreign).

Government Stockpile: None.

Events, Trends, and Issues: The United States remained one of the world’s leading markets for dimension stone. In 2019, total imports of dimension stone decreased in value by about 9% compared with the value in 2018. In 2019, steady activity in new residential construction resulted in a slight increase in domestic production of dimension stone compared with that of the previous year. Dimension stone for construction and refurbishment was used in commercial and residential markets; in 2019, the renovation market for existing homes remained steady and unchanged compared with that in the previous year. Dimension stone exports decreased to about $60 million. Apparent consumption, by value, was estimated to be $2.3 billion in 2019—a 7% decrease compared with that of 2018.

The dimension stone industry continued to be concerned with safety and health regulations and environmental restrictions in 2019, especially those concerning crystalline silica exposure. Beginning in 2016, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) finalized new regulations to further restrict exposure to crystalline silica at quarry sites and other industries that use materials containing it. Phased implementation of the new regulations was scheduled to take effect through 2021, affecting various industries that use materials containing silica. Most provisions of the new regulations became enforceable on June 23, 2018, for general industry and maritime operations. On August 14, 2019, OSHA requested comment and information to enable the agency to consider new developments and enhanced control methods for equipment that generates exposures to silica.

World Mine Production and Reserves:

Mine production Reserves6 2018 2019e United States 2,650 2,700 Adequate, except for certain Other countries NA NA special types and local World total NA NA shortages.

World Resources: Dimension stone resources of the world are sufficient. Resources can be limited on a local level or occasionally on a regional level by the lack of a particular kind of stone that is suitable for dimension purposes.

Substitutes: Substitutes for dimension stone include aluminum, brick, ceramic tile, concrete, glass, plastics, resin- agglomerated stone, and steel.

eEstimated. NA Not available. 1See also Stone (Crushed). 2Includes granite, limestone, and other types of dimension stone. 3Defined as sold or used (value) + imports (value) – exports (value). 4Excludes office staff. 5Defined as imports – exports. 6See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources.

U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 2020